Star to discover op fate

Owen Hargreaves visits a specialist this week as fears grow that he will require surgery to clear up his knee tendonitis problem.

United have denied a Sunday newspaper report that the 27-year-old will definitely need an operation, but the specialist could advise that surgery should be the next stage of his treatment.

Hargreaves has been dogged by the problem since his £18m arrival at Old Trafford and has only appeared in three matches for the club this season.

The Canadian-born star made 23 starts and 11 sub appearances in his first season at the club, playing as a right-back in both Champions League semi-final legs against Barcelona and a wide midfielder in the Moscow final against Chelsea, where he successfully converted a penalty in the shoot-out.